TFW introduces Pay As You Go in South East Wales

SWML9102 · 28 Jul 2026

Noticed at Bridgend on Saturday staff appeared to be monitoring numbers of westbound passengers tapping off at the barriers, then re-boarding to head further west.

Only saw one person do it as I passed through, who clearly wasn't familiar with where to tap and had chosen the wrong end of the train to do it efficiently. Guard kindly waited for him, causing minor delay. Not got an issue with people risking it, but dont believe train should be delayed to accommodate the practice.

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positron · 28 Jul 2026

In creating an arbitrary boundary and such a drastic difference in ticket price for PAYG, TfW have brought this practice on themselves. If they're too lazy/unable to fix the ticketing anomalies of paper ticket prices for e.g. Abergavenny the least they can do is hold a train for a few seconds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jul 2026 ==

The alternative is even more people will just tap in and then not even tap out (and either fake a missing tap in app or just accept the £10 fine), nor get a ticket for their onward journey.

Krokodil · 28 Jul 2026

positron said:
The alternative is even more people will just tap in and then not even tap out (and either fake a missing tap in app or just accept the £10 fine), nor get a ticket for their onward journey.

Isn't Hereford barriered?

positron · 28 Jul 2026

I think it is, I was thinking more of journeys in the other direction. E.g. Abergavenny to Swansea. Idk how common a route it is but I heard staff discussing it being an issue. Presumably they talk their way through the barriers or buy a neath to Swansea single to get out rather than an Abergavenny or Bridgend to Swansea.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jul 2026 ==

I know it takes time but I don't see why they can't have the PAYG system on a wider area even if they count as out of zone and just charge standard single fares beyond that point. Their system certainly seems intelligent enough to handle it.

I'm guessing this is something that is handled somewhere in the world on some system of this sort.

Kite159 · 28 Jul 2026

Krokodil said:
Isn't Hereford barriered?

It is, however the other 4 stations between Hereford & Shrewsbury don't have barriers.

Krokodil · 28 Jul 2026

Kite159 said:
It is, however the other 4 stations between Hereford & Shrewsbury don't have barriers.

Yes, but how many people travel frequently enough between Ludlow and Cardiff for dashing out at Abergavenny to tap in becomes an issue?

Christian Schm · 3 Aug 2026

Well I think getting off at the PAYG boundary and then reboarding a later train is ok. It's conceptually no different to taking the slower London Midland train from Birmingham to London because its cheaper. The only issue is when passengers expect their train to wait.

I think it would be useful if TfW were open about this, and say so on the in-train screens and make (occasional) announcements (that it is ok to get off at the PAYG boundary and then reboarding a later train, but that trains cannot wait for passengers just getting off for a tap)

LlanishenBull · 3 Aug 2026

I've had a mail from tfw saying they're withdrawing off peak day returns from 13th August.

This will just encourage more people to use payg and hop off and back on at fare boundaries.

Kite159 · 3 Aug 2026

LlanishenBull said:
I've had a mail from tfw saying they're withdrawing off peak day returns from 13th August.

This will just encourage more people to use payg and hop off and back on at fare boundaries.

Probably worth a new thread about TfW withdrawing off peak day return fares

chrisjo · 21 Aug 2026

Is there any update on the public introduction of ~~Tap & Go~~ Pay As You Go with a Senior Railcard?

LlanishenBull · 2 Sep 2026

chrisjo said:
Is there any update on the public introduction of ~~Tap & Go~~ Pay As You Go with a Senior Railcard?

I'm still on the beta version. Logged a bug the other day.

Travelled HHL to CDQ, then returned CDF to HHL. Was charged the HHL to CDQ return fare.

positron · 3 Sep 2026

LlanishenBull said:
I'm still on the beta version. Logged a bug the other day.

Travelled HHL to CDQ, then returned CDF to HHL. Was charged the HHL to CDQ return fare.

Is that a bug? I thought that CDQ, CDF and CDB tickets were interchangeable? That being said it's a bit odd it didn't just do the return to CDF.

LlanishenBull · 3 Sep 2026

positron said:
Is that a bug? I thought that CDQ, CDF and CDB tickets were interchangeable? That being said it's a bit odd it didn't just do the return to CDF.

Different fares.
£3.30ish hhl to cdf day return
£2.25ish hhl to cdq day return

positron · 3 Sep 2026

Is that a typo or is there over a £1 difference??

LlanishenBull · 3 Sep 2026

positron said:
Is that a typo or is there over a £1 difference??

You've made me go and check now and I was correct. Those are the day return fares with a railcard

positron · 3 Sep 2026

Fair that's shocking difference in price. Hard to see how TfW justify it. Nice thing with PAYG is it fixes lots of these anomalies (admittedly not quite because Railcards but it's close).

No wonder they got rid of Cardiff all stations tickets.

positron · 16 Sep 2026

Noticed that uptake of pay as you go is much higher than it used to be a few trains recently it was basically everyone in the carriage getting their card checked instead of a ticket. I do think they'll need more yellow scanners as time passes, you end up queuing a bit just to tap out.

Envoy · 16 Sep 2026

I see that the Cardiff 6th Form College has moved to Cardiff Bay - about a 3 minute walk from the Bay Metro station. However, the full adult fares charged for the teenagers means that to go from Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Queen Street is £3.40 return whether buying tickets or using contactless. On Cardiff Bus, the fare is £1 each way or £3 for a Day to Go Ticket. So, the fancy new Metro Trains on this and other routes are not competitively priced compared to using buses - especially when they have to pay the full adult fares even though they are still in school.

"Explore affordable travel options within Cardiff's designated fare zones. Whether you're commuting in the city centre, Ely, or Pontprennau/Pentwyn/Llanedeyrn, we've got you covered."

Local single fares

Cheaper local fares for travel within the city centre, Ely or Pontprennau / Pentwyn

www.cardiffbus.com

positron · 16 Sep 2026

They don't have to pay the full adult price though that's what Railcards are for. They can also get season tickets rather than just paying each day.

Also buses (generally) should be cheaper than trains, that's a good thing.

Haywain · 16 Sep 2026

positron said:
They don't have to pay the full adult price though that's what Railcards are for.

If they are at sixth form most, if not all, will qualify for a 16-17 Saver.

Envoy · 16 Sep 2026

Haywain said:
If they are at sixth form most, if not all, will qualify for a 16-17 Saver.

Many thanks - looks like that is the way to go for such teens - despite the £35 fee.

Krokodil · 16 Sep 2026

Haywain said:
If they are at sixth form most, if not all, will qualify for a 16-17 Saver.

If they're 18, TfW has a specific railcard for them too.

Haywain · 16 Sep 2026

Krokodil said:
If they're 18, TfW has a specific railcard for them too.

Even at 18 most could have a 16-17 Saver in future.

Edvid · 29 Sep 2026

chrisjo said:
Is there any update on the public introduction of ~~Tap & Go~~ Pay As You Go with a Senior Railcard?

The 'closed' pilot of Railcard discounts on PAYG is now an open pilot. Anyone who creates or has a registered account can submit their Railcard details and the discount will be enabled within 48 hours.

Railcards | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

Using your Railcard when you tap in and tap out
We’re running an open pilot that lets you use the following Railcards with pay as you go:

16-17 Saver Railcard

16-25 Railcard

26-30 Railcard

Disabled Persons Railcard

Veterans Railcard

Senior Railcard

We’ll compare the pay as you go fare against the equivalent non-pay as you go fare with your Railcard discount applied. We’ll then charge you whichever fare is cheapest.

*Your Railcard’s terms and conditions apply.

So what’s cheaper?
It depends on your journey. These tables compare pay as you go fares, with equivalent non-pay as you go fares with the following Railcard discounts applied:

16-17 Saver (50% discount)

16-25 / 26-30 / Disabled / Veterans / Senior (33.4% discount)

TfW have updated their FAQs to include further information on the Railcard pilot. In addition there is now a section on pink readers, quoted below:

What are pink contactless readers?
You'll find them at selected stations to help you continue or complete your pay as you go journey without passing through station ticket barriers.

When should I use a pink contactless reader?
You should use a pink contactless reader to:
Tap in to start your journey after travelling from outside a pay as you go area
If you arrive at a station from outside the pay as you go area and want to continue your journey using pay as you go, tap your payment card or device on the pink contactless reader before boarding your next train.
Tap out if you're changing train operators or leaving the pay as you go area
This helps ensure your journey is recorded correctly and you're charged the appropriate fare.

When should I not use a pink contactless reader?
If you're leaving the station through ticket barriers, you should tap out at the ticket barriers instead of using a pink contactless reader.

Do pink contactless readers replace ticket gates?
No. Pink contactless readers are there to support you if you need to start, continue, or complete part of your journey without passing through pay as you go gates. Where ticket barriers are available for entry or exit, you should continue to use these to tap in or tap out.

What happens if I forget to use a pink contactless reader?
If you don't tap in or tap out when required, your journey may not be recorded correctly. This could affect the fare you're charged. Please remember to use a pink contactless reader if you're not passing through the ticket barriers to ensure you receive the correct pay as you go fare.

Daniel Boone · 29 Sep 2026

Is this a UK TOC first?

MrJeeves · 29 Sep 2026

Daniel Boone said:
Is this a UK TOC first?

With contactless, yes. Generally with PAYG, clearly not.

Daniel Boone · 29 Sep 2026

MrJeeves said:
With contactless, yes. Generally with PAYG, clearly not.

Some teams in TFW definitely have their heads screwed on more than others.

They've shown a real appetite for implementing this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2026 ==

The pink contactless readers in question:

25/02221/LBC | Installation of two wall mounted ticket validators with new cable containment. | Cardiff Central Railway Station Central Square Cath

www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales

Installation of two wall mounted ticket validators with new cable containment.

A S Leib · 29 Sep 2026

Daniel Boone said:
Is this a UK TOC first?

MrJeeves said:
With contactless, yes. Generally with PAYG, clearly not.

KeyGo (Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern) and Tap2Go (SWR) are two pre-existing cases; I don't know of any others.

MrJeeves · 29 Sep 2026

A S Leib said:
KeyGo (Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern) and Tap2Go (SWR) are two pre-existing cases; I don't know of any others.

Oyster!

At least I count it

positron · 30 Sep 2026

I'm surprised there's not more publicity around this? Unless there is and I've missed it. Beating London to enabling this seems pretty newsworthy.

TFW introduces Pay As You Go in South East Wales

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Using your Railcard when you tap in and tap out​

So what’s cheaper?​

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Using your Railcard when you tap in and tap out

So what’s cheaper?